Bachelor Discrimination Lawsuit Dismissed

ABC's The Bachelor series has never had a black (or any other non-white) star. Unfortunate? Yes. A bit embarrassing for the network? Sure. Out of touch with modern attitudes toward love (and television viewing)? Definitely.

But one thing it's not is illegal, according a federal judge who on Monday dismissed a case filed by two African-American men who claimed The Bachelor and its sister-show, The Bachelorette, discriminated against casting participants of color. The decision seems to reinforce that all's fair in love and war and, thanks to the First Amendment, reality television:

U.S. District Court Judge Aleta Trauger's ruling states that casting decisions by the network and the series' producers are protected by the First Amendment and the case should not continue.

Nathaniel Claybrooks and Christopher Johnson sued the network in April, claiming their bids to appear on "The Bachelor" were never given serious consideration. They claimed the show and its spinoff "The Bachelorette" discriminated against nonwhite participants.

Trauger's ruling calls the plaintiffs' efforts "laudable" but says the lawsuit is aimed at regulating the show's content, which is forbidden under the First Amendment.